Program Description

The Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems offers a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering (MSIE) degree focusing on the design and improvement of systems, products, and processes. This degree is available to those applicants with a bachelor of science degree in Industrial Engineering (BSIE) or other Engineering degree ONLY.

A total systems approach is used to optimize the various aspects of operations in both manufacturing and service industries. Industrial engineers use many analytical approaches to improve productivity, safety, and quality of working life while reducing operating costs. The MSIE curriculum builds on an undergraduate engineering degree to develop a stronger systems focus and analytical capability.

The industrial engineering graduate programs are structured to support the emergence of Central Florida as a national center of high technology as well as supporting the diverse service industries in the region and throughout the nation.

Many of the graduate courses offered by the department or required in the MSIE program are offered through the Florida Engineering Educational Delivery System (FEEDS), which provides video-streamed versions of classes over the Internet.

Please note:Industrial Engineering (MSIE) may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.

International students (F or J visa) are required to enroll in a full-time course load of 9 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. Only 3 of the 9 credit hours may be taken in a completely online format. For a detailed listing of enrollment requirements for international students, please visit http://global.ucf.edu/. If you have questions, please consult UCF Global at 407-823-2337.

UCF is not authorized to provide online courses or instruction to students in some states. Refer to State Restrictions for current information.

Curriculum

This program can be taken entirely through the Center for Online and Virtual Education (COVE), which provides video-streamed versions of classes over the Internet. More information about this program can be found at http://www.cecs.ucf.edu/COVE/ or (407) 823-3814.

The Industrial Engineering MSIE degree requires an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering or any other Engineering degree. Students with undergraduate degrees outside of industrial engineering may be required to take additional prerequisites. The program offers both thesis and nonthesis options with each requiring 30 credit hours of courses. At least half of the regular coursework must be at the 6000 level. A cumulative grade-point average of B must be maintained in the entire program of study.

Nonthesis Option: The nonthesis option requires 12 credit hours of required courses and 18 credit hours of electives. Research studies are required in one or more courses. The research study and report will focus on reviewing and analyzing contemporary research in the profession in order to help students acquire knowledge and skills pertaining to research-based best practices. In addition, students may engage in directed independent studies, directed research or a research report during their studies. A program of study must be developed with the graduate program director and meet with departmental approval. At least one-half of the credit hours (including thesis hours) required in a master’s program of study must be at the 6000 level or higher. Students on assistantships must take 9 credit hours per semester to satisfy the university’s requirement for full-time status. Most students working full time take 6 credit hours per semester. At that rate, the program can be completed in 6 semesters or less. However, students with more time available and with an early start on a thesis, if applicable, can finish the program in 3 semesters.

Prerequisites

Students with undergraduate degrees in industrial engineering or other engineering degrees are encouraged to apply for admission. Graduates from non-engineering curricula may apply to obtain the MS degree.

All applicants are expected to have completed the following prerequisites during their undergraduate engineering education:

Select one of the following courses:

Elective Courses: 12 Credit Hours

All students, both thesis and nonthesis, must take 12 credit hours of electives after consultation with their adviser.

Thesis Option: 6 Credit Hours

The thesis option requires an additional 6 credit hours of thesis. Thesis students must complete an independent research project and write and successfully defend a thesis describing the project. Students may not register for thesis credit hours until an advisory committee has been appointed and the committee has reviewed the program of study and the proposed thesis topic.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science requires that all thesis defense announcements are approved by the student’s adviser and posted on the college’s website (http://www.cecs.ucf.edu/graddefense/) and on the College of Graduate Studies Events Calendar at least two weeks before the defense date.

EIN 6971 Thesis 6 Credit Hours

Nonthesis Option: 6 Credit Hours

The nonthesis option requires a capstone course and an additional unrestricted elective course that supports the student’s area of research and study interests. The capstone course should be completed toward the end of the student’s graduate plan of study. As part of the requirements of this courses, students will complete an independent capstone project on a topic relevant to the industrial and systems engineering field and approved by the instructor. Students are expected to use and leverage knowledge obtained in the program to complete the project. This course serves as the culminating experience for students and shows their engagement in independent learning.

IEMS Electives

The program requirements are flexible enough to allow the students to tailor the coursework according to their desired educational and career goals. With the approval of their adviser and/or the graduate program director, students may select from the following groups of courses to satisfy the needs of their research goals or career objectives. To assist the students in achieving these goals and objectives, courses are grouped below to suggest focus areas, only as a guide to assist in advising and course selection. They are not intended to restrict elective choices among specialization areas as the intent of the program is to help graduate students maintain an integrated approach to their studies. The listing of these courses does not guarantee that they will be offered by the department in a particular year or semester.

In addition to the courses listed below, students may be allowed to take courses from the following disciplines at UCF, with the approval of the graduate program director, as an elective in their graduate program of study:

Equipment Fee

Full-time students in the Industrial Engineering MSIE program pay a $58 equipment fee each semester that they are enrolled. Part-time students pay $29 each semester that they are enrolled.

Independent Learning

A research project serves as the independent learning experience for thesis students. Nonthesis students are required to complete the department’s capstone course toward the end of their program.

Application Requirements

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science strongly encourages prospective applicants to request a free pre-screening submission (www.cecs.ucf.edu/prescreen) of their qualifications prior to submitting an online application for graduate admission. However, a pre-screening is not required; rather, it is offered as a courtesy to all prospective applicants before they commit to submitting a complete online application and paying an application processing fee.

Admissions decisions are made on the basis of a complete online application only, and not on the basis of any pre-screening. Prospective applicants who are encouraged to apply to their intended graduate program based on the information provided for their pre-screening are not assured of admission or financial assistance when they submit a complete online application. Although it is possible, it is not likely, that prospective applicants who are discouraged from formally applying to a graduate program at the pre-screening stage will be admitted if they elect to submit a complete online application anyway.

One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended

Résumé or Curriculum Vita

Goal statement

The goal statement should discuss all relevant professional background and any previous research and/or teaching experience. The statement should explain the motivation behind the pursuit of a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering. Future educational and career goals after the completion of the applicant’s master study should be discussed.

If the applicant is interested in completing a Master thesis, then the applicant must clearly describe the particular area of research interest. The applicant should identify at least one UCF faculty member who shares a similar research focus and is believed to be best suited to serve as a potential thesis advisor.

The goal statement should between 500 and 1,000 words.

Two letters of recommendation

The letters of recommendation should be from faculty members, university administrators and employers with a supervisory role of the applicant. The letters, which must be current to the application and must not be for another degree program, should address the educational and career goals of applicant. The letter writers should also know the applicant well enough to discuss the applicant’s capacity to perform, excel and succeed in a graduate program. Letters for Master’s thesis students must discuss the applicant’s ability to perform graduate-level research.

Faculty members may choose to conduct face-to-face or telephone interviews before accepting an applicant into their research program.

Application Deadlines

Industrial Engineering MSIE

*Fall Priority

Fall

Spring

Summer

Domestic Applicants

Jan 15

Jul 1

Dec 1

-

International Applicants

Jan 15

Jan 15

Jul 1

-

*Applicants who plan to enroll full time in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by the Fall Priority date.

Financials

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Fellowships

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student’s graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.